Surviving childhood trauma, overcoming a hostile medical system, a cultural history of 19th century Europe, 80 years of the American Dream, and German Jewish women on the legacy of racism… All in today’s starred review round-up!

“In a feat of empathy and imagination, the Irish writer O’Brien portrays one girl’s torments after she is taken by jihadis in Nigeria… A heartbreaking tale and a singular achievement.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

BAKING WITH KAFKA by Tom Gauld
A best-of collection of literary humour cartoons from the critically-acclaimed Guardian cartoonist. “The art is dominated by shadowy stick figures that inhabit often complex spaces, which somehow makes it all the more droll.” — Publishers Weekly

POPPIES OF IRAQ by Brigitte Findakly & Lewis Trondheim
Findakly’s nuanced tender chronicle of her relationship with her homeland Iraq, co-written and drawn by her husband, acclaimed cartoonist Trondheim. “Small in size but large in impact, this intimate memoir is a highly relevant and compassionate story of family, community, prejudice, and the struggle to love when the forces of the world push groups apart.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

FROM LONE MOUNTAIN by John Porcellino
Porcellino shares his love of nature as he uproots his comfortable life and travels from small town to small town, experiencing America in slow motion road trip. “The rawness of Porcellino’s work, its unfiltered directness, is the essence of its charm.” — Los Angeles Timesreadmoreremove

It’s a big month for new teen titles! Check out our new YA & YA-OK releases then tune in to Early Word YA Galley Chat later today at 4pm EST (hashtag: #ewgcya), and tell us about the YA books you’ve been reading:

THE MEMORY OF THINGS by Gae PolisnerAges 12 to 18
A powerful novel about two teenagers finding friendship, comfort, and first love in the days immediately following 9/11 as their fractured city tries to put itself back together. “A touching look at the power of selflessness, memory, and hope in the face of tragedy.” — Booklist

THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMEWHERE by Julia DayAges 12 to 18
Ash Gupta is admired by his peers, enjoying his last year of classes and getting the kind of grades that his wealthy, immigrant parents expect. Eden Moore is the unpopular, sharp-tongued girl from the trailer park most likely to become class valedictorian. What can the future hold for two passionate souls from totally different worlds? “This is an engaging read. The narrative takes place during one semester of school, and it’s full of drama, struggles with money and grades, family turmoil, and identity issues.” — School Library Journalreadmoreremove

Sarah Glidden is many things: a progressive Jewish American twentysomething who is both vocal about and critical of Israeli politics in the Holy Land, a graduate of Boston University, and the author of an award-winning graphic memoir.

Her second highly anticipated graphic novel, ROLLING BLACKOUTS: Dispatches from Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, details her two-month long journey through Turkey, Iraq, and Syria as she accompanies two reporters while they research stories on the Iraq War’s effect on the Middle East and, specifically, the war’s refugees. “Glidden’s understated, face-focused illustration style gets under your skin—by removing her own personality from the writing, the author sucks readers in so deeply that you really feel present, seeing her journey through her eyes.” — Library Journal, starred reviewreadmoreremove

“In the second volume of an acclaimed five-part graphic memoir, originally published in France, cartoonist Sattouf captures the discomfiting and occasionally humorous details of his first year in school in a Syria that is casually anti-Semitic and not particularly kind to anyone.”
— Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Even before its concluding volume, Sattouf’s saga of struggle and survival has established itself among the most powerful memoirs the comics medium has seen.” — Booklist, starred review

“This work will undoubtedly win more accolades as the author continues the proposed five-volume series. Readers familiar with Marjane Satrapi’s PERSEPOLIS will be well rewarded when they pick up this similarly engrossing book.” — Library Journal, starred reviewreadmoreremove

EVERFAIR by Nisi Shawl
In this deeply compelling debut novel, Shawl takes readers to an alternate Earth where the inhumane history of the Belgian Congo is brilliantly rewritten when Africa’s indigenous populations learn about steam power.

FALLEN LAND by Taylor BrownThree stars for Brown’s debut novel about a young couple on the run from pursuers across Sherman’s March through Georgia in the final year of the Civil War. “Much like Charles Frazier’s COLD MOUNTAIN in style, subject, and mood, but also as evocative of the nineteenth-century American landscape as Karen Fisher’s A SUDDEN COUNTRY, this is a masterpiece that deserves a full serving of accolades.” — Booklist, starred review

THE SOUND OF GRAVEL by Ruth WarinerA Maximum Shelf Awareness selection! Jeannette Walls’ THE GLASS CASTLE meets ESCAPE by Carolyn Jessup, THE SOUND OF GRAVEL is the remarkable true story of one girl’s coming-of-age in a polygamist Mormon Doomsday cult. “This well-written book is hard to put down and hard to forget.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review